Closet lighting system

Abstract

A closet lighting system incorporates a light strip that extends around an inside perimeter of a closet doorway and is configured to automatically turn on when motion is detected in the doorway. Motion may be a closet door opening or a person moving into a closet doorway, either walking into or reaching in. A closet lighting system has one or more activity sensors to detect the motion in the closet doorway. A first activity sensor may be configured proximal to the control system or the connected end of the light strip to the controller. A second activity sensor may be configured on a distal end of the light strip and may send a motion signal through the light strip, such as through a data line or through a power line. A motion signal may a voltage signal passed through the power line below a voltage to activate the lights.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of automatically illuminating a closet comprising:
 a) providing a light strip system comprising:
 i) a light strip configured around an inside perimeter of a closet doorway, said light strip having a connected end, and a distal end; 
 ii) a first activity sensor configured to detect motion in said doorway; 
 iii) a control system coupled to the connected end of the light strip, 
 iv) a second activity sensor that is configured on the distal end of the lighting strip; and 
 
 wherein the first activity sensors is coupled to the control system to provide a motion signal to the control system and wherein the control system is configured to control turning on and off the light strip; 
 b) producing motion in said closet doorway; 
 c) detecting said motion; 
 d) automatically turning on the light strip when motion is detected by said first activity sensor or second activity sensor to illuminate said closet. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein producing motion is motion of a person moving in said closet doorway. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the closet comprises a door configured over said doorway and wherein the first activity sensor is configured to detect motion of said door, wherein producing motion is motion of the door. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the closet comprises a door configured over said doorway and wherein the first activity sensor is a time-of-flight sensor and is configured to detect a position of the door. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the time-of-flight sensor is configured to detect motion of said door, wherein the light strip is turned on when motion of the door is detected. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the light strip turns off when the first activity sensor detects that the door is open and closed rapidly. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first activity sensor is configured on the control system. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light strip turns off when the first activity sensor detects a programmed motion event. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second activity sensor is configured to detect motion of a person moving in said closet doorway. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second activity sensor is configured to detect motion of a second closest door, and wherein the light strip is turned on when motion of the second door is detected. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second activity sensor transmits a motion detection signal through the light strip to the controller. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the light strip comprises a data-line and wherein the motion detection signal of the second activity sensor is transmitted to the controller through said data-line. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the light strip comprises an integral power line extending along the light strip and coupled to second activity sensor to provide power to the second activity sensor. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the motion detection signal from the second activity sensor is transmitted through said power-line to the controller. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light strip turns off when the second activity sensor detects a programmed motion event of the second door. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light strip system further comprises a battery to provide power for the closet lighting system. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the battery is configured in an interchangeable battery pack. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the light strip system further comprises a wireless transceiver for sending wireless signals, wherein a remote electronic device is coupled to the closet lighting system by the wireless signals and wherein a low battery alert is sent to the remote electronic device when the battery drops below a low power threshold state of charge. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the wireless signal is a Bluetooth wireless signal. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light strip extends a substantial portion of the inside perimeter of the closet doorway of at last 51% of said inside perimeter. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light strip system further comprises a wireless transceiver for sending wireless signals to a remote electronic device, and
 wherein the light strip is controlled by the remote electronic device, wherein the light strip is turned on and off by the remote electronic device.